Homiletic Magazine 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold… I. IT IS A FALSE OBEDIENCE WHEN OBEDIENCE IS REFUSED THE MOMENT THE LAW OF GOD STANDS ALONE. In Soul's onslaught upon Amalek, there was, up to a certain point, a perfect agreement between duty and inclination, God's service and self-interest There was no zeal test of obedience until Amalek had been smitten to the last man, and that man the King. The people of Israel were eager to indulge their ancient enmity against Amalek, but were not willing to exterminate the flocks and herds. Herein lies Soul's condemnation He forsook the path of duty the moment it went forward alone, and other things — inclination, custom, self-interest — did not point the same way There are times when religion goes further than we are inclined to go, requires more than we are disposed to render; parts company with our inclinations, and tastes, and purposes, and habits. The test of obedience is then. We must not suppose that we are serving God when we attend religious services, perform religious duties, keep the Divine law only so long and so far as inclination, interest, custom point the same way. II. IT IS A FALSE OBEDIENCE WHICH IS REGARDED AS JUSTIFYING OR EXCUSING DISOBEDIENCE IN CERTAIN MATTERS AND IN OCCASIONAL INSTANCES. Many claim for themselves what has been justly termed a dispensing power. On the ground of their general good conduct, general attention to religious duties, general obedience to the Divine law, they hold themselves excused, or warranted in occasional departures. III. IT IS A FALSE OBEDIENCE WHEN DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD IN ANY FORM AND UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IS REGARDED AS A TRIFLING THING. It seemed a light matter to Saul to act as he did But we can easily see that his slight disobedience involved great principles. 1. It assailed and dishonoured the character of God. To spare Agag was to charge God with partiality, was to give to His decree as iniquitous character. 2. It degraded the whole transaction. When Israel and Saul went forth to battle they were invested with the awful dignity of executing a Divine judgment. But Saul's conduct would have made it simply a vulgar marauding expedition. 3. It involved a degradation of religion God is regarded as One who might overlook the disobedience if only He is made a sharer in the spoil. (Homiletic Magazine.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. |
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